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Its been 14 games and 98 days since Toronto FC fullback Richard Eckersley hurt his hamstring. Somewhat embarrassingly, he suffered the injury celebrating teammate Darel Russells tying goal March 6 against FC Dallas. "Ive learned my lesson," the 24-year-old English defender said with a sheepish smirk. "When other people score then Ill just relax a little bit. But it was the 92nd minute. I think emotions got the better of me. . . . Its happened. I cant really do much about it." Finally healthy - he aggravated the injury during convalescence - Eckersley should see action Saturday as Toronto (2-8-7) visits Sporting Kansas City (8-5-6). Kansas City, which has a 17-point edge over Toronto in the standings, won 2-1 in Chicago last weekend and is undefeated in its last four league outings and in seven of its last eight. Toronto is coming off a bye weekend. Its last outing was July 3 when it blew a 3-1 lead and had to settle for a 3-3 tie with the visiting Montreal Impact. In 2011 and 2012, Eckersley was almost a club constant seeing action in 56 games. This season, the number is just five. Suspensions, international call-ups and injuries have not helped the Toronto backline in recent weeks. Manager Ryan Nelsen has been forced to shift centre back Darren ODea to left fullback and has been playing Ryan Richter at right back in Eckersleys absence. Eckersleys return is welcome for all those reasons. And because he is a tireless runner and a gritty defender who helps drive Toronto. But in the longer run, while the club has said nothing publicly, Eckersleys salary is a problem in a league where the salary cap is a tight US$2.95 million. Listed at $310,000 (and it may be bigger if Toronto has used allocation money to reduce the amount listed against the salary cap), the red-headed Brit makes more than the high-priced defenders voted into the Fan XI for the 2013 all-star game: Kansas Citys Matt Besler ($200,000) and Aurelien Collin ($256,250), and Los Angeles Omar Gonzalez ($282,000). According to the MLS Players Union TFC salary list, Eckersley is the teams third highest-paid player after Dutch striker Danny Koevermans (a designated player with a $1.663-million salary) and defender-captain Darren ODea (whose $465,250 is also problematic). And Eckersleys contract is guaranteed for next season. Spending $300,000-plus on a fullback in MLS is like buying a Prada toilet brush. Its handy and nice to have. But can you justify buying it? Richter, Eckersleys replacement, makes $35,125. The injury has not helped matters, since Eckersley has been reduced to an expensive spectator. Toronto president Kevin Payne, however, admits the club could have handled Eckersleys injury better. "Players, especially younger players like Richard, their enthusiasm sometimes get the better of them," Payne told reporters this week. "And we probably rushed Richard back a little bit or allowed him to rush himself back a little bit. So I think we learned something from that one." Said Eckersley: "I never really rested it the first time round. Obviously I was trying to get back as soon as possible. So I think we didnt give it time to rest and repair itself." He says the injury took a mental toll, "because youre paid to play football and you cant do it." "So you take it out on other members of your family. But they understand. There were times when I was a little bit down but like I say its injuries and youre a footballer, youre a professional athlete and youve got to learn how to deal with them." While Eckersley has been a regular in the TFC lineup, he is no stranger to long-term injury. The former Manchester United youth product had a back injury when he was 17. Striker Danny Koevermans in unavailable Saturday with a calf issue but Robert Earnshaw is healthy again. Toronto is short in midfield with Jonathan Osorio at the Gold Cup with Canada and Luis Silva traded to D.C. United. Still Kansas City manager Peter Vermes calls Toronto an athletic side not to be underestimated. "I think theyre better than they were last year," he told a news conference this week. "I say it all the time. I dont think that record is a good indicator of what kind of team youre playing in this league because theres so much parity." Toronto defeated Kansas City 2-1 at the Rogers Centre in March in the second game of the season for both teams. "I dont think were going to forget that," said Vermes, referring to "soft goals" his team gave away that day. 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Tom Seaver Jersey Large .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. Worried you had to spend more time with the family this Boxing Day? Start a new Boxing Day tradition with five LIVE NBA games on ESPN2 and two NFL games LIVE on ESPN!So sit back and relax this Boxing Day with a full day of NFL and NBA.?Boxing Day NBA on ESPN2Celtics @ Knicks: Boxing Day begins from 4am with the Celtics venturing into Madison Square Garden to tackle the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks last win on Boxing Day came in 2011 against the Celtics, can history repeat?Warriors @ Cavs: The NBA Finals combatants meet for the first time since Game 7 last June. 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